Personal Cooling Device

ABSTRACT

A personal cooling device that is constructed to resemble an ornamental necklace wherein the personal cooling device is operable to provide heat relief to a user. The personal cooling device includes a ring shaped body that is hollow having a first end and a second end. Operably coupled to the body intermediate the first end and the second end is a power unit. The power unit includes a fan assembly mounted therein that has a turbine style fan. The fan assembly is suspendedly mounted within the interior volume of the power unit via a plurality of support members. One of the plurality of support members includes an air intake passage formed therein that is operable to provide air to the fan assembly. The body further includes two parallel rows of apertures extending the length of the body that facilitate the distribution of an air stream to a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cooling devices, morespecifically but not by way of limitation, a personal cooling devicethat is worn on a user wherein the device provides a continuous streamof air that is operable to provide relief to a user.

BACKGROUND

Millions of individual live in climates where arm temperatures arepresent at least six months of the year. These people seek relief fromthe heat using items such as fans and air conditioners. Additionally,people will seek refuge from the heat by involving themselves in variousactivities such as but not limited to swimming. In addition to theclimate, many individuals experience uncomfortable warmth as part ofvarious medical conditions. By way of example but not limitation, aswomen enter and begin to experience menopause it is very common forthese women to experience hot flashes. Hot flashes are short durationsof time wherein the women's body temperature increases and the women mayfeel a rapid heartbeat and sweating. These symptoms are very common forwomen experiencing menopause and they often seek relief using variousitems such as cool wet cloths or seek an air-conditioned building.

One problem with existing methods of relief from either heat or symptomssuch as the aforementioned is that these methods may or may not bereadily available. It may not be possible for a person seeking relief tofind either an air conditioned facility or that person may not havewithin their disposal an item such as a wet cloth that can be used toprovide relief. Additional conventional items such as cooling sprays andthe like can have undesirable effects such as dampening hair and have anegative impact on facial makeup.

Accordingly, there is a need for a personal cooling device that isdisguised as ornamental jewelry that is operable to provide relief fromheat symptoms to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a personal coolingdevice operable to provide relief from heat and/or heat like symptomswherein the personal cooling device is worn as ornamental jewelry.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal coolingdevice constructed to appear as ornamental jewelry such as but notlimited to a necklace, wherein the personal cooling device includes acylindrical hollow body having a decorative exterior surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a personalcooling device that is constructed to appear as an ornamental piece ofjewelry wherein the personal cooling device has disposed therein aminiature turbine style fan.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a personalcooling device resembling an ornamental necklace having a hollowcylindrical body that includes a plurality of apertures journaledthrough the body.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a personalcooling device that is manufactured to appear as an ornamental necklacethat further includes a power supply disposed within the hollowcylindrical body.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a personalcooling device that is operable to provide relief from heat or otherheat-like symptoms wherein the personal cooling device is manufacturedto appear as ornamental jewelry wherein the plurality of apertures arejournal substantially around the entire body of the device so as todistribute an airstream to a user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a personalcooling device that is operable to provide a cooling air supply to auser wherein the personal cooling device is constructed to appear asornamental jewelry that includes a replaceable power supply.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the presentinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings areillustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of thepresent invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the power unit of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein variouselements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and whereinthrough the views and figures like elements are referenced withidentical reference numerals, there is illustrated a personal coolingdevice 100 constructed according to the principles of the presentinvention.

An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein withreference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the detailed description herein with respect tothese figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention that alternative embodimentsare plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, thosehaving skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the presentinvention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitableapproaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application toimplement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyondthat of the particular implementation choices in the embodimentdescribed herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within thescope of the present invention.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular methodology, materials, uses and applicationsdescribed herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit thescope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein andin the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the pluralreference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or moreelements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in theart. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusivesense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having thedefinition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusiveor” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structuresdescribed herein are to be understood also to refer to functionalequivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed toexpress approximation should be so understood unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplaryembodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure or characteristic.

Referring in particular to FIG. 1 herein, the personal cooling device100 includes a body 10 that is ring-shaped and is manufactured from adurable material such as but not limited to metal or plastic. The body10 in its preferred embodiment is manufactured having a sufficientdiameter so as to be worn by a user as a choker-style necklace. The body10 is substantially hollow so as to allow an air stream to passtherethrough as further discusses herein. It is contemplated within thescope of the present invention that the body 10 may be manufactured soas to be rigid or that a material may be used that provides someflexibility. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerousmaterials could be utilized to manufactured the body 10. The body 10 hasan exterior surface 11. It is contemplated within the scope of thepresent invention that the exterior surface 11 of the body 10 isornamental in order to at least partially conceal the apertures 40. Itis further contemplated within the scope of the present invention thatthe exterior surface could be encrusted with numerous types of jewelrystones and/or be decorated using a coating.

Releasably secured to the body 10 is the power unit 20. The power unit20 is releasably secured to end 8 and end 9 of the body 10 utilizingsuitable durable techniques. The power unit 20 houses the componentsfurther discussed herein that are operable to provide a stream of airegressing from the plurality of apertures 40 in order to provide coolingrelief to a wearer of the personal cooling device 100. The power unit 20includes outer housing 22 that is manufactured from a suitable durablematerial such as but not limited to plastic or metal. The power unit 20is substantially hollow having interior volume 24 and further beingtubular in shape. It is contemplated within the scope of the presentinvention that the power unit 20 could be formed in numerous differentshapes and sizes. Operably coupled to the power unit 20 is power button30. The power button 30 provides an interface for the user to activateand/or deactivate the personal cooling device 100. The power button 30is centrally mounted on the power unit 30 and its centralized mountinglocation is desired as the power button 30 is designed in the preferredembodiment to be encrusted with an ornamental stone or to be ornamentalin appearance. This design conceals the power button 30 from itsfunctional use and provides a visual focal point of ornamentality.

Referring in particular to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of the powerunit 20 is illustrated therein shown being adjacent a portion of a humanneck 99. Disposed within the interior volume 24 is a fan assembly 50.The fan assembly 50 is operably coupled to power supply 60 via wire 59.Further the power supply 60 is operably coupled to power button 30 viawire 69. The fan assembly 50 includes a housing 52 manufactured from asuitable durable material such as but not limited to plastic. Rotatablymounted within the housing 52 is a fan blade 54. The fan blade 54 is aconventional turbine style fan blade that is operable to produce aforced air stream. The air stream produced by the fan assembly 50 isdirected into the hollow passage of body 10 and ultimately egressesoutward from the body 10 via the plurality of apertures 40. The airstream egressing from the apertures 40 serves to provide some relief toa user from the symptoms of heat. The fan assembly 50 is suspendedlymounted within the power unit 20 via support members 80. The supportmembers 80 include first end 81 and second end 82 and are manufacturedfrom a durable rigid material such as but not limited to metal.

The support members 80 are secured to the interior of the body 10 andthe housing 52 utilizing suitable durable techniques. While in theillustrated embodiment three support members 80 are illustrated, it iscontemplated within the scope of the present invention that any numberof support members 80 could be utilized to suspendedly mounted the fanassembly 50. The suspended mounting technique as disclosed herein isoptimal as it provides for the improved generation of an air stream tobe forced in the interior volume of the body 10. Support member 90 isconstructed having air intake passage 91 with opening 92. Support member90 in addition to functioning to suspendedly mount the fan assembly 50is further operable to provide an air intake via air intake passage 91.Support member 90 provides the necessary air input for the fan assemblyto produce an air stream to be distributed into the body 10. While onlyone support member 90 is illustrated herein, it is contemplated withinthe scope of the present invention that the personal cooling device 100could be constructed having more than one support member 90 thatincludes an air intake passage 91.

As shown in particular in FIG. 2, it is contemplated within the scope ofthe present invention that the personal cooling device 100 includes anupper row 39 and lower row 38 of apertures 40. The positioning of theupper row 39 and lower row 38 are such that the apertures 40 aregenerally obscured from a person standing adjacent to a wearer of thepersonal cooling device 100 and further as shown in FIG. 2, the upperrow 39 and lower row 38 are positioned such that when the personalcooling device is adjacent a human neck 99, the apertures 40 deliver airat an upwards angle from the upper row 39 and a downwards angle from thelower row 38. While an upper row 39 and a lower row 38 are illustratedherein in the preferred embodiment, it is contemplated within the scopeof the present invention that the personal cooling device 100 could havea single row of apertures 40 or more than two rows of apertures 40.Additionally, while a choker-style necklace is the preferred embodimentof the present invention, it is contemplated within the scope of thepresent invention that the personal cooling device 100 could beconstructed as a bracelet or an anklet.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitableembodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description mayomit certain information known to those skilled in the art. Thepreceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limitedto the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, ascan be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal cooling device comprising: a body,said body having a housing that is ring-shaped, said housing beinghollow having an interior volume; a power unit, said power unit coupledto said body, said power unit having a housing and being substantiallyhollow, said power unit further including a fan assembly disposedtherein, said fan assembly operable to generate a stream of air andistribute into said body; at least two support members, said at leasttwo support members being operably coupled to the housing of said powerunit and said fan assembly, said at least two support members operableto suspendedly mount said fan assembly within said power unit; andwherein said body further includes a plurality of apertures operable tohave air egress therefrom.
 2. The personal cooling device as recited inclaim 1, wherein one of said at least two support members furtherincludes an air intake passage, said air intake passage operable tosupply air to said fan assembly.
 3. The personal cooling device asrecited in claim 2, and further including a power supply, said powersupply being mounted within said power unit, said power supply operablycoupled to said fan assembly.
 4. The personal cooling device as recitedin claim 3, and further including a power button, said power buttonoperably coupled to said fan assembly, said power button having anexterior surface that is ornamental in appearance.
 5. The personalcooling device as recited in claim 4, wherein said body further includesan exterior surface, said exterior surface being ornamental inappearance.
 6. The personal cooling device as recited in claim 5,wherein said plurality of apertures are distributed in two rows alongsaid body, said two rows being parallel to each other.
 7. The personalcooling device as recited in claim 6, wherein the personal coolingdevice is manufactured in the form selected from a group of one of thefollowing: necklace or bracelet.
 8. A personal cooling device operableto be worn as costume jewelry comprising: a body, said body having ahousing that is ring-shaped, said body being substantially hollow, saidbody having a first end and a second end, said housing having aninterior surface and an exterior surface; a power unit, said power unitcoupled to said body intermediate said first end and said second end,said power unit being substantially hollow having an interior volume,said power unit further having a fan assembly suspendedly mountedtherein, said fan assembly operable to provide an air flow to said body;a plurality of support members, said plurality of support members havinga first end and a second end, said plurality of support members operableto suspendedly mount the fan assembly within the interior volume of thepower unit; and a first row of apertures, said first row of aperturesbeing journaled through the housing of said body, said at least one rowof apertures extending around the entire length of said body.
 9. Thepersonal cooling device as recited in claim 8, and further including anair intake passage, said air intake passage being formed in one of saidplurality of support members, said air intake passage operable toprovide air input to said fan assembly.
 10. The personal cooling deviceas recited in claim 9, wherein said power unit further includes a powerbutton, said power button being centrally mounted to said power unit,said power button operably coupled to said fan assembly, said powerbutton further configured with an ornamental exterior surface.
 11. Thepersonal cooling device as recited in claim 10, and further including apower supply, said power supply being mounted within said power unit,said power supply operably coupled to said fan assembly.
 12. Thepersonal cooling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the exteriorsurface of said body is configured to have an ornamental appearance. 13.The personal cooling device as recited in claim 12, and furtherincluding a second row of apertures, said second row of apertures beingparallel to said first row of apertures, said second row of aperturesextending the length of said body.
 14. The personal cooling device asrecited in claim 13, wherein the personal cooling device is manufacturedin the form selected from a group of one of the following: necklace orbracelet.
 15. A personal cooling device constructed to resemble achoker-style ornamental necklace wherein the personal cooling devicefunctions to provide heat relief to the wearer comprising: a body, saidbody having a housing that is ring-shaped, said body being substantiallyhollow having an interior volume, said body having a first end and asecond end, said housing having an interior surface and an exteriorsurface; a power unit, said power unit coupled to said body intermediatesaid first end and said second end, said power unit being substantiallyhollow having an interior volume, said power unit further having a fanassembly suspendedly mounted therein, said fan assembly including ahousing and a turbine style fan blade, said fan assembly operable toprovide an air flow to said body; a plurality of support members, saidplurality of support members having a first end and a second end, saidplurality of support members being rectangular in shape, said pluralityof support members operable to suspendedly mount the fan assembly withinthe interior volume of the power unit; a first row of apertures, said atleast one row of apertures being journaled through the housing of saidbody, said at least one row of apertures extending around the entirelength of said body; a second row of apertures, said second row ofapertures being journaled through the housing of said body, said secondrow of apertures being parallel to said first row of apertures, saidsecond row of apertures extending around the entire length of said body.16. The personal cooling device as recited in claim 15, and furtherincluding an air intake passage, said air intake passage being formed inone of said plurality of support members, said air intake passageoperable to provide air input to said fan assembly.
 17. The personalcooling device as recited in claim 16, wherein said power unit furtherincludes a power button, said power button being centrally mounted tosaid power unit, said power button operably coupled to said fanassembly, said power button further configured with an ornamentalexterior surface.
 18. The personal cooling device as recited in claim17, wherein the fan assembly is mounted such that the center of the fanassembly is in the center of the interior volume of the power unit. 19.The personal cooling device as recited in claim 18, and furtherincluding a power supply, said power supply being mounted within saidpower unit, said power supply operably coupled to said fan assembly. 20.The personal cooling device as recited in claim 19, wherein the personalcooling device is manufactured in the form selected from a group of oneof the following: necklace or bracelet.